The Ivey family of Evergreen Cattle Co. will represent Saskatchewan at Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers national awards program in Quebec City later this month. Above are Aaron and Adrienne Ivey with their children Colton, seven, and Noelle, nine, with trusted family member, Ben, in the middle.

Focusing on strengths such as beef and grass

Saskatchewan: Aaron and Adrienne Ivey’s focus on their cow-calf 
operation has taken them to the top

Aaron and Adrienne Ivey say it is important that they concentrate on the strengths of their east-central Saskatchewan ranching operation. Producing beef and grass is the core business on their ranch near Ituna, Sask. northeast of Regina. They seed some annual crops to accommodate pasture and hay land rotation, and while they background their calves […] Read more

Richard and Nicole Brousseau with Ethan, Cassie and Emery

New barn grows dairy

Alberta: Moo-Lait Farms makes plans for future growth


Nicole Brousseau figures her husband Richard walked their dairy herd through every corner of their new northeast Alberta dairy barn at least 1,000 times (in his head) before they even began construction of the barn, which was completed and put into service in March. The 72’x160′ loose housing structure that connects to a double seven […] Read more


Quebec city waterfront

Quebec City hosts OYF national event

Outstanding young farmers from across Canada will gather in Quebec on November 28

Beautiful down town Quebec City will be the backdrop later this month for the 34th annual Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) national awards program, being hosted this year by the La Belle province OYF committee. Nearly 200 OYF alumni and guests from across Canada are expected in Quebec City, Nov. 26 to 30 to participate […] Read more

OYF nationals back in Regina

Once again successful young farmers from across the country will be celebrated at a national awards ceremony

THE NOMINEES, 2013 British Columbia: Troy and Sara Harker Alberta: Michael Kalisvaart and Karen Jansen Saskatchewan: Chad and Darlene Krikau Manitoba: Tyler and Dorelle Fulton Ontario: Dana and Adam Thatcher Quebec: Luc Gervais and Kim Brunelle Atlantic Canada: James and Amanda Kinsman, Nova Scotia About 150 alumni as well as Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) nominees […] Read more


B.C. growers add value

What’s good for other Okanagan growers is good for Harker’s Organics is how Troy and Sara Harker view the role of their diversified organic farming operation in south Central B.C. If they can help other growers find a market and add value to their products that also helps strengthen the Harkers’ own farm retail, wholesale […] Read more

Diversifying an Alberta farm

“If you’re not growing you’re falling behind,” is an appropriate motto for how Michael Kalisvaart has managed his Edmonton, Alta.-area farm over the past 20 years. When it became clear the economics just weren’t behind the long-time, family-run farrow-to-finish hog operation, he launched out in the mid-1990s to build a straight grain and oilseed cropping […] Read more


Joint ventures help Saskatchewan farmers grow the business

Chad and Darlene Krikau have built business partnerships to build their Saskatchewan 
grain and oilseed farm

Establishing business partnerships with other farmers has been an important element for Chad and Darlene Krikau over the past seven years as they have built their central Saskatchewan grain and oilseed farm. While it is nice to own everything yourself, the reality is that farm economics don’t always support the notion of owning every acre […] Read more

Manitoba nominees focus on enterprise economics

For Tyler and Dorelle Fulton, knowing what parts of their business make a profit is the key to success

Tyler and Dorelle Fulton say it’s a sharp pencil that help keeps their southwest Manitoba cow-calf beef operation in the profit picture. They’ve separated the farm business — managed in a joint venture with Tyler’s parents — into four different enterprises. They monitor the profit potential of each enterprise throughout the year and adjust management […] Read more


Ontario farm operates around a country store

It may not be quite as simple as “build it and they will come,” but Dana and Adam Thatcher, Ontario’s Outstanding Farmers, have found if you produce high-quality and healthy meat products customers will find you. The Thatchers, who converted their one-time Western Ontario hog operation into a diversified livestock enterprise complimented with an on-farm […] Read more

Dairy farmers focus on making the most of what they have

James and Amanda Kinsman might have more land or more dairy quota on their Christmas wish list, but since no one appears to be making any more of either in Nova Scotia they’re just doing their best to be as efficient and profitable with what is available. The Berwick, Nova Scotia dairy farmers would really […] Read more